Banana and haemorrhoids

Early research from Europe discovered that those people who love to eat bananas able to maintain a happy and balanced mood, because bananas contain a certain protein which is able to stimulate the human brain’s nervous function, creating euphoria and a joyous mood sensation to maintain the balance of mood, reducing the heart’s pressure. Thus it is named as a happy fruit. Banana also has beneficial health effects, especially in the intestinal area. Banana can help to prevent and to improve the symptoms of hemorrhoids.

1. Symptoms of Haemorrhoids

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Haemorrhoids are very common. Some may experience acute or chronic haemorrhoids. The main symptoms are in the anus area: an uncomfortable sensation during or after bowel movement, such as, pain, burning, puffy feeling, also, prolapse of the anus, bleeding with bright red blood, hard stool, constipation or diarrhoea. If the mild haemorrhoids are not resolved they will usually become worse and worse. The haemorrhoids untreated can progress to a more serious disease.

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2. Causes of Haemorrhoids

There are many causes of haemorrhoids, such as: injury, labour, long term or short term constipation or heat/toxins in the intestine. Chinese medicine considers that a combination of these causes may lead to accumulation and stagnation of heat, blood and toxins in the anus area.

Along with haemorrhoids they may also suffer from: red face, hot body, bad breath, insomnia, headaches, pass odorous wind, bloated stomach. In the clinic, a practitioner will check if you have a red tongue with a thick coating and rapid, slippery pulse.

In my clinic this case is very common, we usually check the pulse and tongue to find out the cause of the haemorrhoids and then set up the right treatment, such as acupuncture or herbal medicine. During treatment, we often give suggestions around diet and lifestyle to help with a quick recovery. I suggest banana is one of the fruits that you can have during treatment of this problem.

3. Health Effects of Banana

1) Help Bowel Movement & Help Clear Intestinal Heat

The Ancient Chinese medicine book, Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi mentions that banana is sweet in taste and cold in nature. It is able to clear intestinal “heat”, add moisture to the intestines and eliminate toxins. Therefore it is suitable to be consumed by people who have haemorrhoids caused by heat and toxins in the intestines, according to the symptoms mentioned above.

As bananas have a moisturising function for the intestines, the elderly with chronic constipation could consume bananas in moderation.

2) Clear Toxins

Bananas also have the ability to dispel toxins, and can lessen the effects of fungal or bacterial infected skin diseases. If you eat a meal and then feel uncomfortable, nauseous or start vomiting, you can have banana to help release the toxins.

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4. Recipe

1) Banana Porridge

After cooking your favorite porridge, chop half or a full banana into your porridge.

5. Precautions

1) If you suffer diarrhoea, please stop eating banana.

2) If you are unsure of your body constitution, please get adivce from you experiences TCM practitioner.

6. How to Prevent Haemorrhoids

It is important to have bowel movement everyday. The stool should not be too hard or too loose. Sitting on the toilet too long should also be avoided.

After an extended time of seating, it is important to move around the help improve the circulation to the anus area. It is also important to reduce the amount of time one is sitting on the the toilet and pushing as when you are sitting, there is increased pressure on the lower body which may impair circulation.

Avoid overeating hot and spicy foods as it will result in accumulations of heat and toxins in the intestines.

About Ping Ming Health

Dr Ping Wang is the clinic founder and senior practitioner of Ping Ming Health. She has over 30 years of experience in traditional Chinese medicine teaching and practice. Dr Ping especially enjoys sharing her knowledge of Chinese medicine through our popular clinic articles, seminars and clinical training of students and practitioners.